BUTTER-BOXES

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21123, 26 March 1934, Page 10

BUTTER-BOXES

AUSTRALIAN CHOICE OF N.Z. TIMBER SKLMI'ICANCE LOR DOMINION DAIRY INDUSTRY "A triumph for New Zealand white pine, and an important lesson to the dairy industry of the Dominion. . . ." This was the comment of Mr D. Reese on the cabled announcement from Sydney that the use of New Zealand white pine (kahikatea) for butter-boxes is provided for in regulations shortly being issued covering the export of Australian dairy -/reduce. Mr, Reese is associated with important timber-milling activities on the West Coast. The adoption of the proposed regulations in Australia would not necessarily mean a greater immediate market for New Zealand white pine, as they were only putting into legislation what had been the practice for many years with Australia's butter export. The alternative timbers proposed— Queensland kauri and treated hoop pine—were unlikely to be used much for export boxes. "White pine is admittedly the best timber in the world for the packing of butter for shipment, but New Zealanders themselves have not always appreciated this fact," said Mr Reese. "It is very remarkable that all through the years of Hie development of the dairy industry of Australia, the Australians have adhered religiously to the use of white pine for their butter-boxes. The same cannot be stud of important sections of the dairy industry in New Zealand. An Early Dispute "Disputes between the muiers o] white pine and the New Zealand dairy industry began during the war. Then the extraordinary demand for butter on the part of Croat Britain, and an increasing demand for white pine for butter boxes in Australia, had the effect of automatically raising the price (1 f ihe timber. The New Zealand dairy industry, becoming alarmed, applied to the' Government to restrict, th" export of white pine to Australia. The New Zealand sawmilicis. in conference with representatives of '.he daily industry anil the free.nog industry, agreed to undertake the : upply of New Zealand requirements before exporting to Au.-tralia. The dairviiig interest.-; were not satisfied 'with tins ..Her. and demanded a detinite restriction. Subsequently the National Government under Mr Massey gave wa\ to these incessant demands ami introduced legislation Inuilmg the export <<( v. lute pine to -ji) per cent! of Ihe total produced in New Zealand. Tin Australians were rather mcem ed a! tins and actually retaliation took Place. "Fortunate!;. .level-headed men were in charge of the timber industry in those days, and they carried out in its onln-etv the' was!: of Ihe Government lhat the dairy mdu.-trv : hould gel Us full supply of white pine for but lcr-bo;-.es, .it should be noted that the (■utter- i boxes take (>nly the -wide boards from the logs, leaving the saw- '• millers Io find other markets fori their 'narrows.' It is true thai there was some grumbling on Ihe part of Ihe buiter-bo-s people #h a l Ihe price ' oi the limber had become excessive. ! but llnv forgot that Lie price of, but'er itself bad readied stagger-j ing figures. The war ended with] both the butter industry and the i white pine industry nourishing ox-j ceedingly. I'sins Swedish Substitute "The butter man, however, who has always been an exacting person, was not satisfied, and so lie turned to force the price of butterboxes down m this country, llis first .step was to import large quantities of boxes manufactured in I Sweden. The results were not only . discouraging, but actually damag- j ing to the reputation of New Zealand butter in the London market.! Very serious trouble developed i over one particular shipment, which, i definitely checked the idea that i Swedish timber was an outlet for cheaper butter-boxes. "The idea has still persisted in certain quarters, and there is ia» doubt that it lias not been helpfui to the dairy industry. The Australians, on the other hand, have stuck to white pine as the only timber for export butler-boxes. Those intimately associated with the dairy industry will know that 10 or 15 years ago there was marked diil'erence between the price in the London market for Australian butter aud for New Zealand butter. That position no longer exists, and tin re is little doubt lhat the extra foresight of the Australians, particularly in this matter of timber for butter-boxes has contributed to this gain on New Zealand in the matter of London prices for butter. Forests on West Coast "For years many people ha\ e been saying that all Ihe white pine in New Zealand will soon be cut out, and that a substitue will have lo be found. It is true that substitute butler-box timbers are available to-day. even to (lie treatment of pinus insignis, but the coal of treatment brings these other inferior timbers u\-> to a price equal to white pine. Consequently withe pine inusi have an unrestricted run until j! i- cut out." The great while pipe a: i a: north of Auckland round ike shores el the Kaiparn and, llokianga harbours on the west coast and round Whangaroi. Whangarca. and Opua on the ore! had for m.mv year: supplied the major part of Ihe' limbers exports of New Zealand, with, a considerable portion ah o being shipped from Groymouth and Westport in the South Island. Mr Reese continued. With these great forest.- - of the north now practically euf out, the centre of white pine production had definitely shifted to the West Coast of the South Island. In past years large quantities of white pine had been obtained on the West Coast, mostly up the Otira and Reefton lines, but it would not be long before practically the whole of the white pine from the West Coast would be milled south of Hokitika. One great area at Bruce Bay, 140 miles south of Hokitika, was estimated to contain 300.000.000 feet of white pine. Other large ureas were available further so.ills Di!:i"!iHics of .Millers "Those to rests are lar bey end the Boss railhead, and entail shipment into vessels loading at places hvm

■a La h they weald have to ran f .;■ shelter in roua.h weath.er." s„ai M r Hee-.e -Nearer to Koss and as la-r as Okanto is a great deal of wkate j pme, bat all of this is being carted ' loii': distances by road to IUO railhead, then ;;,iHi- {., Grey;r,euih fa- : iupment. Li'eai a white pine 'iilll ~l Lie Keeara. on the hanks oi Lake liaiii'.n, ail limbe - is being carted :L> miles by road, being put oTi thetrain at Ngahero. •'lnstances could be multiplied of ; the extreme difficulties sawrnillcrs ! are overcoming in order to satisfy | | the demand for white pine. The j butter man who grumbles about the ' I price of white pine should visit , | .some of these timber areas and see what is boins done. He would be more satisfied, and would realise the dilaeultics." It was important to note, said Mr j Reese in conclusion, that not only j was Australia drawing on Grey- i mouth and Westport for supplies of ! white pine for butter boxes, but j j even the North Island was now ! ; doing : o. and would to a greater ox'"■i; ••■■ tune \-. eat in. Tea- S.agb '■ 'and dairy Lad amae* weheiit eM--piui;i adhered to whale' pine fiii- packing butter for export, 1 I as had also the freezing companies I lor the manufacture of tallow cask;*,' i ... ■ ■